Electrical annunciator



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Patented Nov. 2 6, 1889.

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G. E. LEE. ELECTRICAL ANNUNGIA'I'0R.

Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

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CHARLES E. LEE, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK.

ELECTRICAL ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,915, dated November 26, 1889. Application filed May 14, 1888. Serial No.2'73,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. LEE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricalAnnunciators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My present invention relates to improvements in annunciators; and it has for its obj ect to improve and simplify their construction and operation by providing an instrument in which the necessity of the employment of an electro-magnet for each circuit entering it is obviated, containing a single electro-magnet for causing the operation of progressively-moving indicating devices, the current in the particular circuit actuating the instrument being so manipulated by circuitcontrolling devices connected to or moving synchronously with the indicator that the latter will be arrested when the proper station is designated; and to this end it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and the 'novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' represents a front view of the instrument complete; Fig. 2,a similar view with the faceplate or dial removed; Fig. 3, a similar view with the con tact-plate and contact-fingers removed; Fig. 4, a rear view of the contactl plate, showing the operation of the resetting mechanism; Fig. 5, a view of the rear of the instrument; Fig. 6, a plan of the circuits and connections; Fig. 7, a View of a modified form ,of indicating device; Fig.8, a view of the base of theinstrument. Fig. 9 is a viewof amodification.

Similar letters and figures of reference in the several figures indicate similar parts.

The operating parts of the instrument are mounted upon a suitable base A, having standards B, projecting therefrom a suitable distance, to which are secured in any desired manner a dial 0', having a series of characters thereon indicating the various circuits centering at the instrument, in the present instance the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 being employed, and a casing D, adapted to be se-' cured to the base in any desired manner, completely inolosing the instrument. The base is preferably of cast-iron, and has formed upon it, in addition to standards B, three projecting portions 0, D, and E, the first serving as the support for the bell-magnet and one end of a contact-carrying plate, the standard D as a support for the other end of said plate and the armature-adj usting screw, and the other one E as the connectingpiece for the cores of the main electro-magnet F and the support for the armature of the bell magnet. An extension B is also formed upon the base carrying the standard or stud for supporting the bell B all as in Fig. 8; By forming these portions directly with the base I not only cheapen and simplify construction, but insure the stability of the operating parts and their proper coaction, and the main points of connection being immovably established, I can readily replace the operating parts of the instrument when. Worn without the necessity of careful adjustment to insure proper action.

- The cores of the main electro-magnet F are connected to plate E, and in front of the poles is arranged an armature G, pivoted at g in suitable bearings formed in the base and bracket 9, and havinga leaf retracting-spring G, secured to it, passing upward, and its upper portion resting against an adjustingscrewf, passing through standard D, by Which the tension can be adjusted when desired. Extending upward from the armature is an arm H, with its end formed into a detent for operating upon the circuit-controlling devices, as will be explained. Upon the top of the standard is secured a metal plate 0, having at its outer end a perforation, through which passes the upper portion of a shaft or spindle 1, its lower end preferably having a bearing in a recess in the plate E, and the portion extending beyond the plate 0 passes through the dial and has the indicating-hand c secured to it in any suitable manner. Preferably below the plate 0 is secured the segmental plate J, rigidly attached to the spindle I, so as to move with it, said plate in the present instance consisting of rubber or other IOC non-conducting portion, with a metal plate J secured to its lower side, and having at its periphery a series of notches or ratchet-teeth 7', constituting stops, corresponding in number to the number of circuits centering at the instrument, and in distance to the space be tween the figures on the dial, while the detent on the end of arm H is bent inward, and is arranged to engage with them, the retracting-spring G normally holding the end in engagement with the periphery; but when the magnet is energized the detent is withdrawn and the plate permitted to fall by gravity to lowest position if not sooner arrested by the release of the armature. Instead of providing the notched metal plate in addition to the non-conducting one, the notches could be formed on the latter; but I prefer the described construction, as the liability to wear is materially lessened. The top of the segmental plate is'formed of metal divided into two portions J J by a space j which may, if desired, be-filled with non-conducting niaterialor left open, the inner portion J 2 being in el'ectrical'contact with plate 0, and through this with the frame or base and the other J 3 is insulated by the plate J.

K represents a plate of insulating material secured to supports O and D ,and bearing on itsonter side a series of spring contact-fingers 1,. 2, 3, 4, 5, and L,-the outer ends of all, save finger L, being bent down and adapted to be in contact with plates J 2 J when the latter are moved under them, while contact L is normally above the plates, but is adapted tomake cqntact insuccession with a series of studs or projec'tion'soc, 00 50 0c, and .735 on plate J when they are brought under it by the movement of the segment. Instead of the projections, as shown, the edge of the plate might be cut away, save at the points where it is desired to make contact corresponding with the present position of the studs. Each of the contact-fingers except L is connected with a corresponding binding-post 011 the back of the instrument by a small wire 00", to which posts the various line-wires are connected, and from the spring L a wire Z extends to the coils of the electro-magnet F, the other terminal Z of which passes to the rear side of the base and connects with binding-post M.

The signal-bell is of the ordinary continuous-ringing kind, the electro-magnet N being connected to the support 0 by a screw, as shown, while one terminal of the coil connects by wire Z with post M on the rear, the other being connected by the wire Z with the post m, insulated from the base, carrying the adjustable contact, and the circuit being completed through the spring m on the armature N and the frame, a suitable retracting leaf-spring N being provided for the armature and a bell-hammer N adapted to strike bell B as will be understood.

' If desired, instead of a continuous-ringing bell a single stroke may be substituted, though when the instrument operates on an open circuit I prefer the described arrangement.

The segmental plate,it will be understood, is loosely pivoted, and when released by the lever H drops to the extreme lowest position, (indicated by the dotted lines,) sweeping beneath all the contact-fingers and causing them to make contact with plate J in succession and the connection between finger L with the projections 09' 00 &c., to be made and broken in succession, the index-hand or pointer also moving across the face of the dial and pointing to a figure thereon at the same instant the detent II is in line with one of the notches in plate J. It will be understood that instead of relying on gravity alone to rotate this plate a spring could be employed' for the purpose, and the number of stations or circuits could be increased by making the arc of rotation longer and adding contact-fingers and contacts; but in' the present instance I employ only five circuits, and prefer to rotate the plate by gravity alone.

The circuit arrangements are shown fully in Fig. 6, 0 representing a battery, one pole being connected by wire 0 with the post M, the other pole being connected to the earth 011 a return-circuit P, while from each of the circuit-closing devices 6, 7, 8, and 1.0 (the number of them employed corresponding to the number of stations) extends a line-wire to the corresponding contact-finger at the annunciator-that is, circuit 6 connects with finger 1, 7 with 2, and so on.

WVhile the circuit-manipulati'ng devices at the stations may be push-buttons, it is obvious that, instead of these, thermostats or other equivalent devices could as well be employed and the device used in connection with firealarm circuits or for other purposes. hen the instrument is in normal position, the segmental plateis raised and the detent II in engagement with the first tooth at the bottom, the pointer at the zero position, and all circuits open, and all of the contact-fingers or springs in contact with plate J and finger L resting upon the top of the first stud 00. Upon the circuit being closed at any one ofthe stationssay station 8 corresponding to finger 3, current will pass from battery 0, over 0, to post M, magnet F, finger L, to first stud 00, to plate J finger 3, and line-wire to station, thence to groundor a return-wire. The magnet F, being energized, will attract its armature and release the segment, which, falling, will first break contact between L and x, allowing the retracting-spring G to throw detent H against the periphery of the plate and slightly retard its movement; but before the next notch in the periphery is reached, which would engage the detent and prevent further rotation of the segment, the circuit will be closed again by finger L making contact with projection :2 the magnet energized again, and the detent thrown out until this second notch is passed. between 00 and L will be broken again and IIO Then the contact ing the station from whence the signal was sent. \Vhen the circuit operated is again .returned to normal and it is desired to return the instrument to normal position, it is only necessary to turn the segment on its pivot back to first position, the retracting spring of -the armature causing detent H to enter the first notch and hold it elevated as before. As a convenient means for accomplishing this purpose I provide the rear side of the segment with a projection s, and locate on the base-plate a standard R, having two perforations therein, one for the passage of a rod S, provided at its upper end with a short plate or cross-piece S, and the other for the passage of guide-rod S secured to the plate and adapted to preventrotation of the latter. The pin on the back of the seginentis so situated as to be slightly to one side of the pivot of the plate when, in lowest position, so that when the rod S is raised the plate S will eny gage the pin and return the segment to normal position, the upper rear side of the latter striking the support 0, determining the limit of movement, the detent I-I slipping by the notches, as will be understood. The construction and operation of this portion of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 4. hen the instrument has been returned to first position, it is ready for another call, the operations being gone through with the same as before, the main circuit being completed just before the notches indicating stations other than the one calling are reached, causing the detent to pass over them, and causing it to operate as a brake to prevent the too rapid movement of the plate J and the main circuit through the detent-magnet beingbroken just before the last or indicated notch is reached, so that the detent will be allowed to engage it, and the contact being made to ring the bell. The operation of the first circuit corresponding to finger 1 will cause the detent to engage with the first notch after being released. The second will cause it to skip one and engage the second, and so on throughout the series. ()1? course the number of circuits can be increased, being only limited by the size of the plate.

The braking action of the detent I regard as an important feature, as it prevents'the too rapid movement that the plate might have were the detent held retracted until just before, say, the last notch was reached and then permitted to be thrown in engagement. \Vithout this arrangement the right stop on the plate might pass by the detent and the wrong station be designated. The adjusting-screw operating on the armaturespring enables me to regulate the pressure exerted by the detent on the segmental plate, as described. Instead of allowing the plate to fall by gravity, as described,aspring could be provided for moving it, the other arrangements beingin all respects the same. It will further be noted that instead of pivoting the segmental plate, or of employing a segmental plate at all, a rectangular one could be employed, slidingin appropriate guides and having substantially the same arrangements of contact-plates and detents as in Fig. 9, the pivoted arrangement being preferably employed for the purpose of economizi'n g space and convenience of operation.

Instead of the dial and hand-indicator employed, I prefer in some instances to construct the dial with a plain aperture therein and to secure to the shaft I below it a card or plate bearing a series of figures or indications thereon corresponding to the stations and arranged to be brought under and exposed through said aperture, as shown in Fig. 7.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric indicator, the combination, with the movable plate connected to and actuatin g the indicating device, the series of stops and the detent engaging therewith to arrest the movement of the plate, and the magnet in the main circuit with its armature for operating the detent, of the branch circuits corresponding in number to the numberof stops, with a circuit-controller (such as a push-button) in each circuit for causing the disengagement of the detent and stops, a series of contacts, one for each branch circuit, and contacts co-operating therewith, one series moving in unison with the plate and operating to cause the engagement of the detent and stops, a series of contacts corresponding in number to the number of stops and a contact in the main circuit engaging therewithsuccessively, one moving in unison with the plate and operating toprevent the engagement of the detent and stops, the contacts in the branch circuitslocated and operating in advance of the contact in the in ain circuit, whereby they will cause the engagement of the detent and stops, substantially as described.

2. In an annunciator, the combination with the magnet, its armature, and the detent operated thereby, of the pivoted segmental plate having a series of stops on its periphery, with which the detent engages, corresponding ,to the several circuits, an indicator mounted 011 the pivot of the. plate, a series of contacts connected to the several circuits extending parallel with the plate, a contact-plate located upon the face of the segmental plate with which the several contacts break contact in succession when the plate is moved, and a main circuit, including the contact-plate and magnet, substantially as described.

ITO

3. In an annunciator, the'combination, with the magnet, its armature, and the detent operated thereby, of the autoniatically-movable plate having the series of stops, with which the detentengages, corresponding to the several circuits, an indicator connected to said plate, so as to move therewith, a series of contacts connected to the several circuits, a contact-plate connected to the movable plate,

having the portions with which the several circuit-contacts engage arranged with reference to the corresponding stops so as to break contact with them just before the stop reaches the detent, a series of contacts connected to the contact-plate, and a co-operat-ing contact connected to the magnet and the main cir-' cuit, said last-mentioned contacts being arranged to complete the circuit just before one of the stops reaches the detent, substantially as described.

4. In an annunciator, the combination, with the magnet, its armature, and the detent operated thereby, of the automatically-movable plate having a series of stops, with which the detent engages, corresponding to the several circuits, an indicator connected to and moving therewith, a series of contacts connected to the several circuits, a contact-plate operated by the movable plate, having portions with which the several contacts engage arranged with reference to the corresponding stops so as to break contact with them just before the stop reaches the detent, a series of contacts connected to the contact-plate, and a co-operating contact electrically connected to the magnet and main circuit and arranged to make contact with one of the last-mentioned series just before one of the stops reaches the detent, and a second contact-plate moving with the movable plate, a circuitcontaining an alarm connected with said last-mentioned plate, substantially as described. 7

5. The combination, with the magnet, its armature, and the detent operated thereby, of the movable pivoted segmental plate having a series of stops, with which the detent engages, corresponding to the several circuits, an indicator connected to and moving therewith, a series of contacts connected to the several circuits, a contact-plate mounted on the segmental plate, having the portions of different lengths with which the circuit-contacts engage, and a second series of contactsurfaces, a second contact-plate mounted on the segmental plate, a circuit containing an alarm connected to said last-mentioned plate, a contact-finger arranged to connect with the second series of contact-surfaces on the firstmentioned contact-plate, and a circuit includin g the magnet and said contact-finger, all arranged substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the movable plate, he series of stops, and the detent, one moved by the plate and engaging each other to arrest the movement of the plate, and the magnet in the main circuit with its armature for.

operating the detent, of a series of contacts corresponding in number to the number of stops and a co-operating contact in the main circuit engaging successively therewith, one moved by the plate in unison with the stops and operating to change the current and cause the detent and stops to pass, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the magnet, its armature, a detent operated thereby, and a retracting-spring, of a movable plate having a series of stops with which the detent cooperates to arrest the movement of the plate when the circuit is open, a main circuit passing through the magnet, a series of contacts interposed in the said circuit, and a co-operating contact, one arranged to move with the plate, said series of contacts being so arranged relative to the stops as to connect with the co-operating contact and complete the circuit only while the stop is passing the detent, allowing the retracting-spring to hold the latter in contact with the plate and operate as a brake to prevent too rapid movement, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the magnet, its armature, a detent operated thereby, and a retractin -spring and means for adjusting its tension, of a movable plate having a series of stops with which the detent co-operates to arrest the movement of the plate when the circuit is open, a main circuit passing through the magnet, a series of contacts interposed in the circuit, and a co-operating contact, one arranged to move with the plate, said series of contacts being arranged relative to the stops, so as to connect with the co-operating contact and complete the circuit only when the stop is passing the detent, allowing the retracting-spring to hold the latter in contact with the plate and act as a brake preventing too rapid movement, and the pressure of the detent being regulated by the adjustment of the spring, substantially as described.

9. In an annunciator, the combination, with the magnet, its armature, and the detent operated thereby, of the pivoted segmental plate having a series of stops on its periphery, with which the detent engages, corresponding to the several circuits, an indicator mounted on the pivot of the plate, a pin projecting from said plate, a series of contacts connected to the several circuits extending parallel with the plate, a contact-plate located upon the face of the segmental plate, with which the several circuit-contacts break contact in succession when the plate is moved, a sliding resetting-bar co-operating with the pin on the segmental plate, and a main circuit including the contact-plate and magnet, substantially as described.

OHARL 18 E. LEE.

Witnesses:

FRED F. CHURCH, ADA J UDD LEE.

IIO 

